MODIFICATION OF SICKLING TEST FOR MASS SCREENING OF SICKLE CELL DISEASE USING CAPILLARY BLOOD IN ANTI COAGULANT AND REDUCING SUBSTANCE PRE COATED CAPILLARY GLASS TUBES

Dr Satyabrata Patra; Dr B.C.Adhikari; Dr R.K.Shrivastava

Volume : VI, Issue : V, May - 2017

MODIFICATION OF SICKLING TEST FOR MASS SCREENING OF SICKLE CELL DISEASE USING CAPILLARY BLOOD IN ANTI COAGULANT AND REDUCING SUBSTANCE PRE COATED CAPILLARY GLASS TUBES

Dr Satyabrata Patra, Dr B. C. Adhikari, Dr R. K. Shrivastava

Abstract :

Mass screening for sickle cell disease is the need of the hour. A screening test should be cost effective, easy to perform, less cumbersome, should have a high sensitivity and T.O.T. of the test ( Turn Over Time, meaning time taken for a single cycle of test which excludes time taken for sample collection) should be short.

Sickling test is a well established and time tested test. But preparation of fresh 2% solution of sodium metabisulphite and slide preparation for sickling by covering the edges of the coverslip using wax is cumbersome. Solubility test is not reliable. Agarose gel electrophoresis is an art that needs a skilled technician, costly instrumentation and consumables, TOT is long, and cannot differentiate between Hb S,C,D disease in alkaline pH. Cellulose acetate electrophoresis is similar to Agarose gel electrophoresis but much more expensive than Agarose gel. HPLC is a very expensive setup, available only at tertiary level and therefore not suitable as a screening test in Indian scenario. Our modified sickling test is easy to carry out, cost effective, less cumbersome, no need of a freshly prepared solution of sodium metabisulphite, and most importantly, it uses capillary blood thereby doing away with the need for venepuncture.